It was the activism of women themselves that was the most important factor in advancing
their civil rights
Ultimately throughout the period 1865-1992 women’s rights did improve significantly
including improved economic rights and opportunities, rights to choose what women do
with their bodies and improved political rights including the right to suffrage. Although
prosperity was assisted with favourable external circumstances, it is undeniable, that these
ameliorations were down to women’s own actions and their own activism fighting for their
rights especially economically and politically. Whilst socially it has been argued that
women’s own actions were also the cause of the movements hinderance, nonetheless for
the most part the improvements that had been resultant was due to the actions of women
themselves. Therefore, this essay will endeavour to argue that it was the activism of women
themselves that was the most important factor in advancing their civil rights.
It is clear that the advancement of Women’s political rights was ultimately down to their
own activism and desire to fight and campaign, especially in the latter half the 19 th century
and the earlier periods of the 20th century leading to WWI, through the fight for the right to
suffrage which was viewed as the primary political aim at this time. Indeed, this desire for
the right to vote, has been demonstrated through the creation of AWSA (American women
suffrage association and NWSA (national women suffrage association) founded by Elizabeth
Stanton, and Susan B Anthony in 1869, eventually leading to the establishment of NAWSA
(national American women’s suffrage association) in 1880. This group which had gathered a
membership of over 100,000 women by 1915, was fundamental in planting the seed for the
right of suffrage and through fighting for the right to vote on a state level, were
instrumental in putting this issue firmly on the national agenda. By 1896, three states: Utah,
Idaho and Colorado had given women the right to vote with this increasing to 20 states by
1918. It is undeniable the impact that these women and this group had on the issue of
suffrage and democracy for all, and evidently influenced the works of Alice Paul and the
Congressional union for women’s suffrage in 1913. This group also influenced by the British
Suffragettes were more radical then NAWSA in their methodology that they saw fit in order
to obtain the vote. Nonetheless through their drastic strategies including picketing the white
house for 18 months and going on hunger strikes, in conjunction with their exploitation of
the war, emphasising the hypocrisy of Wilsons pledge to make the world safe for
democracy; this group was absolutely essential to the resultant ratification of the 19 th
amendment in 1920 that granted women the right to suffrage. Additionally, although voter
apathy in the years after the 19th amendment remained prevalent, it is undeniable that
women were keen and willing to make a career for themselves in the political sphere
especially in public office, for example Victoria Woodhull who ran for the presidency in 1872
running for the equal rights party. This was further demonstrated and aided through the
establishment of the National Women’s political Caucus in 1971 that was instrumental in
helping women into public office. Indeed, when it was founded there were 15 women in
congress and 362 women in state legislatures, whereas by 2001 this had increased to 1565
women in state legislatures and 72 in congress. Hence it is undeniable the impact that
women themselves had in assisting and improving their political rights.
However, it could be argued that there were many external factors, that were not due to
own actions of American Women, that was the main cause for the 19 th amendment in 1920.
their civil rights
Ultimately throughout the period 1865-1992 women’s rights did improve significantly
including improved economic rights and opportunities, rights to choose what women do
with their bodies and improved political rights including the right to suffrage. Although
prosperity was assisted with favourable external circumstances, it is undeniable, that these
ameliorations were down to women’s own actions and their own activism fighting for their
rights especially economically and politically. Whilst socially it has been argued that
women’s own actions were also the cause of the movements hinderance, nonetheless for
the most part the improvements that had been resultant was due to the actions of women
themselves. Therefore, this essay will endeavour to argue that it was the activism of women
themselves that was the most important factor in advancing their civil rights.
It is clear that the advancement of Women’s political rights was ultimately down to their
own activism and desire to fight and campaign, especially in the latter half the 19 th century
and the earlier periods of the 20th century leading to WWI, through the fight for the right to
suffrage which was viewed as the primary political aim at this time. Indeed, this desire for
the right to vote, has been demonstrated through the creation of AWSA (American women
suffrage association and NWSA (national women suffrage association) founded by Elizabeth
Stanton, and Susan B Anthony in 1869, eventually leading to the establishment of NAWSA
(national American women’s suffrage association) in 1880. This group which had gathered a
membership of over 100,000 women by 1915, was fundamental in planting the seed for the
right of suffrage and through fighting for the right to vote on a state level, were
instrumental in putting this issue firmly on the national agenda. By 1896, three states: Utah,
Idaho and Colorado had given women the right to vote with this increasing to 20 states by
1918. It is undeniable the impact that these women and this group had on the issue of
suffrage and democracy for all, and evidently influenced the works of Alice Paul and the
Congressional union for women’s suffrage in 1913. This group also influenced by the British
Suffragettes were more radical then NAWSA in their methodology that they saw fit in order
to obtain the vote. Nonetheless through their drastic strategies including picketing the white
house for 18 months and going on hunger strikes, in conjunction with their exploitation of
the war, emphasising the hypocrisy of Wilsons pledge to make the world safe for
democracy; this group was absolutely essential to the resultant ratification of the 19 th
amendment in 1920 that granted women the right to suffrage. Additionally, although voter
apathy in the years after the 19th amendment remained prevalent, it is undeniable that
women were keen and willing to make a career for themselves in the political sphere
especially in public office, for example Victoria Woodhull who ran for the presidency in 1872
running for the equal rights party. This was further demonstrated and aided through the
establishment of the National Women’s political Caucus in 1971 that was instrumental in
helping women into public office. Indeed, when it was founded there were 15 women in
congress and 362 women in state legislatures, whereas by 2001 this had increased to 1565
women in state legislatures and 72 in congress. Hence it is undeniable the impact that
women themselves had in assisting and improving their political rights.
However, it could be argued that there were many external factors, that were not due to
own actions of American Women, that was the main cause for the 19 th amendment in 1920.
